Women’s basketball: Lions stunned in NAIA Tournament

JACKSON, Tenn. - The Vanguard University women’s basketball saw its

stay in the NAIA National Tournament and season come to a screeching halt

Thursday night as unseeded Western Montana moves on in the Division I

event, 79-60.

Marisa Emde had 16 points to lead the 10th-seeded Lions (28-7), while

Kelly Boeke added 13.

It’s ironic that last year, the Lions were the first team since 1991 to

upset a top-eight seed in the Tournament, knocking off fifth-seeded

Lipscomb.

The game was tied at halftime, 29-29, before Western Montana (22-7) took

control of the game with an 11-0 run, turning a one-point Lions’ lead

into a 10-point Western Montana advantage.

Becki Huddle chipped in with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists

for the Lions, this year’s Golden State Athletic Conference regular

season champions.

Usually dominant from three-point range, the Lions were outgunned in the

second half. Western Montana shot 57% from three-point land (8 of 14),

while Vanguard was held to 2 of 9 shooting.

With the loss, the Lions finish in 17th place in the national

championship tournament.

NAIA WOMEN’S NATIONAL DIVISION I TOURNAMENT

First round

Western Montana 79, Vanguard 60

Vanguard - Emde 16, Boeke 13, Huddle 11, Lee 6, McKinney 5, Candelaria 3,

Seaman 3, Weidler 2, Fikse 1.

3 pt. goals - Emde 3, Lee 2.

Fouled out - None.

Western Montana - B. Suhr 25, Burlingame 17, Jones 10, Tait 6, Vosen 6,

Romer 6, Haugan 3, Williams 2, Covington 2, Sherrill 2.

3 pt. goals - Burlingame 5, Jones 2, Tait 2, Haugan 1, B. Suhr 1.

Fouled out - None.

Halftime - Tied, 29-29.